make do and mend for tougher times

Possession

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Morning All!

Question for all you veggies -

I am looking for interesting vegetarian options for the van. They need to be quick to do (on the van, does not matter about the prep beforehand). If it could be frozen all the better.

I currently offer a very limited choice because a) we don't get that many veggies, b) limited options that can be prepared on the van.

I do offer vegetarian wraps - Feta and Olive, Falafal and HM hummus etc. I also have a few boxes of Linda Mc C stuff. We have a microwave on board so can do reheating.

We fry our meat products in the fish fryer - how may of you would not be happy to eat anything fried in that oil? i currently don't offer fried stuff because of this.

Any suggestions will help me get our menu for next year sorted out!

When i was veggie I wouldn't have wanted anything cooked in that oil. My MIL in the shop cooks her veggie sausages separately. Are your falafel wraps hot? If you are already offering a hot option I wouldn't worry too much - a lot of veggies eat fish (yes I realise the irony!) as I did and my sister now does, so they already have a pretty good choice.
TBH when we did special veggie stuff like quiches, homity pie etc it didn't sell well enough to justify offering it. But a decent beanburger would be nice, and the only veggie option which does well in MIL's shop is roasted veg baguettes/paninis, especially with melted cheese of some kind. Not sure if that works for you as the roasted veg only last a couple of days max and probably wouldn't respond well to being heated in a microwave from frozen.

valk_scot

Sunshine4 wrote: »

Have had a very interesting morning.
Had a friend come over for tea and cake this morning, asked me were I bought the cake, told her I made it its just banana cake. Oh I cant cook she says, I said just follow the recipe its easy.

Then she asks why we are selling the car, explained that as I lost my job we dont really use it much and its cost money to run which we cant really afford.

Then she said I know how you feel about having no money, we have just borrowed some to have our bathroom renovated but we are going to go on a hoilday first for 3 weeks to turkey to relax first before having all the work done on the house. I asked her was she having problems with the bathroom as the last time I saw it , it was fine no she says just fed up with looking at the same things

Then she asked what are you having for tea, told her we are having shepards pie I made it yesterday and there is enough for the two of us for two nights. Well she couldnt believe my OH allowed me to do that, as her OH does not eat the same thing twice in a month.:eek:

She really has her head in the sand and has no idea what is going on, I didnt mention about me buying and having a food storage cupboard.
As she would be the first one round if things got bad to ask for food .

He works and she works parttime but they dont earn a huge amount,
I asked her what would happen if they both lost there jobs how would they pay back all the money they borrowed, plus bills and food.
She says they will give me benefits to cover it, I didnt ask her anything more just though they are both in for a hell of a shock if anything happens.

That's one of my neighbours. She gets her whole house redecorated every year, new furniture every two or three, goes away every school holiday, new and stylish clothes for her and OH plus kids every season. Her OH has a good job but his health is uncertain, she's only just gone back to work part time after an illness which will cause her problems for the rest of her life. I really can't see how they can afford half of what they buy tbh, they must be in debt up to their eyeballs. Yet when she comes round she's fascinated/aghast at me doing things like boiling a chicken carcass up for stock or peeling veg rather than buying it pre-prepped. As she says, if you're short of time why not just get a carry-out? They get one three times a week when she's been out working, eek. I probably spend less per week on my whole household budget than these three carry-outs.

Thing is she's always moaning about how small her house is. (It's not a bad house at all tbh, three bedrooms, garden etc.) I remember suggesting once she spent less on home improvements for a few years and saved up for a bigger one. She refuses to live "in squalor" while they do that. So they continue to fritter their money away .....

nuatha

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Morning All!

Question for all you veggies -

I am looking for interesting vegetarian options for the van. They need to be quick to do (on the van, does not matter about the prep beforehand). If it could be frozen all the better.

I currently offer a very limited choice because a) we don't get that many veggies, b) limited options that can be prepared on the van.

I do offer vegetarian wraps - Feta and Olive, Falafal and HM hummus etc. I also have a few boxes of Linda Mc C stuff. We have a microwave on board so can do reheating.

We fry our meat products in the fish fryer - how may of you would not be happy to eat anything fried in that oil? i currently don't offer fried stuff because of this.

Any suggestions will help me get our menu for next year sorted out!

Good morning Mrs C (and everyone else )
Are your chips done in the same fryer, or do you have a chip fryer and a fish/everything else fryer?
None of the veggies I know would be happy having anything cooked in the same oil as animal products (though strangely one of the vegans would eat chips cooked in the same oil).
Onion bhajis and veg samosas might be worth trialling, early/late season it might be worth trying a thick veg soup or broth.
hth

Popperwell

lisakay wrote: »

I've been a [STRIKE]vegetable[/STRIKE] vegetarian for 18 years now. I'm really not a big fan of quorn and other meat replacements. they tend to be a bit bland and i find them quite expensive.

i like to cook with beans, eggs, lentils...
i'm just about to put a load of beans and veg in the SC for a mixed bean chilli. the veg to go in it is mostly from the lotty, the beans and lentils were bought at the asian sm and very cheap, so with a carton of passata, a couple of stock cubes and some spices scavenged from work because they were ood, i will have 2 or 3 meal for each of us for pennies.

I'll have to up my meals usingpulses, rice and other items. Wish we had a local Asian SM but it really depends what Tesco's has in. I agree some Quorn items are not that inexpensive so you have to choose wisely and add sauces/gravy or something to add some extra flavour...

Sunshine4 wrote: »

Had a phone call last night from next door neighbour wanted to know if I wanted any furniture, her aunt is going into a home.

I am now the proud owner of 2 beautiful old matching chest of drawers for my bedroom and 2 old oil lamps that was sitting on them. Neighbour said she asked alot of family did they want any thing there answer was not those old things.

Cant wait to get them they are so beautiful.:j

Going to make up a little basket of goodies for her aunt as a thank you for them.:)

A lovely gesture giving those goodies and I am so happy that some furniture has found a good home where it's appreciated. Sad about her needing to go into a home and that is probably my greatest fear as I get older and being single. I hope that I leave this world before that is an option...though I know some are very happy or accepting of such a place.

fuddle

Morning.

We're having jacket potato, cheese and beans for dinner with a jam steamed pud and custard for desert.

I've relised I spend far too much time online so today I'm going to get on with things, mainly my garden in preparation for planting next year. It's a lovely day if not a bit chilly.

The front door curtain is down and the draught excluder is in position. Unfortunately I put the heating on for half an hour this morning. I have confessed

grandma247

Val you can't help people like that they have to learn the hard way. I suspect you will be first port of call when things do go belly up.

juliettet

Lurker here, - Mrs Chip I regularly have veggie fish & chips at our local pub. It is Halloumi which keeps its shape. I have mushy peas & tartare sauce and it is very good.

kidcat

Mrs C - I dont know any veggie that would accept stuff done in the main oil. I have a few veggie friends who have seperate pans for their veggie stuff too. If we have a BBQ then we have to use a throwaway BBQ to keep the veggie stuff seperate.

Mrs_Chip

Thanks for all the quick replies!

If I was a veggie I would not want my food cooked in that oil either (as I would only be one for ethical reasons!).

We do have boiling rings, but due to space we don't use that when we are using the fryers. Ditto griddle, although this could be used when the fryers are in use. Probably not worthwhile for the very infrequent veggies we get though.

So I have - Fish fryer (meat issues), chip fryer which I try to keep for just chips (so that veggies can have them) and microping.

I would have space for a panini grill, have been thinking about that for a while.

I am assuming a fishtarian would not want fish cooked in the mixed fryer?

Falafal wraps could be hot as they can be pinged, but they don't do so well that way, they go soft. Could drop into the chip fryer but that might taint the oil...

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Morning.

We're having jacket potato, cheese and beans for dinner with a jam steamed pud and custard for desert.

I've relised I spend far too much time online so today I'm going to get on with things, mainly my garden in preparation for planting next year. It's a lovely day if not a bit chilly.

The front door curtain is down and the draught excluder is in position. Unfortunately I put the heating on for half an hour this morning. I have confessed

Sounds nice, you only spend too long on here if other things are not being done;)and when you start your job you will be on here less anyhow(hours at school, then your shopping, housework and preparing meals)enjoy it while you can:)

Of course this could be the very time you'll find your slow cooker and simple meals so your OS training very useful...

Hope you are feeling better and had something nice for breakfast(and found something to replace your cup of tea...unless you've sneaked a little one to start the day)